Drug-Trafficking Firefighter Gets 30 Months in Prison

Aug. 22--A former Albuquerque firefighter was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months in federal prison for his part in a massive drug organization with ties to drug kingpin Chapo Guzman and the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico.

Steve Chavez, 33, was a firefighter in early 2012 when he was charged along with 14 co-defendants with drug trafficking, money laundering and "structuring transactions" -- or trying to hide the money -- due to his role in the so-called Varela Drug Trafficking Organization. Chavez will also have to forfeit more than $180,000 to the United States.

The New Mexico-based organization is thought to have used racehorses and real estate to hide its illegal operation, which federal agents said moved $15 million or more in drugs.

Chavez, in a plea deal, admitted that he made 37 cash deposits and withdrawals in 2011 designed to hide his involvement with the organization, in addition to brokering cocaine deals and "cleaning" money.

The organization met its demise in March 2011 during an illegal firearm transfer at a Love's truck stop. The nine-month, multi-agency investigation culminated in the arrests of the 15 defendants named in a grand jury indictment, plus an additional defendant, and the seizure of 26 kilograms of cocaine, more than 500 pounds of marijuana and more than $165,000 in cash.

Chavez, who had served as an Albuquerque firefighter for seven years at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to his part in the operation in April 2013. Chavez was fired by the city in February 2012.

Homero Valera, the lead defendant and leader of the Valera organization, was sentenced in July 2013 to 135 months in federal prison plus five years of supervised release.

Six of Chavez's co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Another six have pleaded not guilty, and the last, Manuel Villa-Mayorquin, has not been arrested and is considered a fugitive.

Copyright 2013 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.